Photo by Misaki Matsui
Makoto Nakura, marimba
Marimbist Makoto Nakura is a musician whose artistry and virtuosity have been mesmerizing audiences for more than a quarter of a century. In 1994, Mr. Nakura moved from his native Japan to New York City, becoming the first marimbist to win first prize in the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions. His critically acclaimed performances around the world have included venues in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Montreal, Mexico City, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires. In the US, he has performed in 41 of the 50 states, with orchestras such as the New York Chamber Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. As a recital soloist, his long list of appearances includes ones at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. A television portrait of Mr. Nakura was shown on CBS Sunday Morning throughout the US.
Born in Kobe, Japan, Mr. Nakura began to play the marimba at the age of eight. He earned both bachelor's and master's degrees from Musashino College in Tokyo, and continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London from which he was later named an Associate. In 2019, his CD Tears and Prayers won the “New Prominent Master” award from the Japan Association of Professional Recording Studios. His other solo CDs include four discs devoted to works especially written for him (Ritual Protocol, Triple Jump, Tsuneya Tanabe Works for Marimba, and Wood and Forest) and three discs of transcriptions of Bach (Bach Beat, Bach Beat II, and Bach Parallels).